The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of Rubi MG1192 coffee plant and depending on variability of characteristics establish sampling plans for guidence of projects. The treatments consisted of five densities 2,500 (4.0x1.0 m), 3,000 (3.0x1.0 m), 5,000 (2.0x1.0 m), 10,000 (2.0x0.5 m) and 20,000 plants ha-1 (1.0x0.5 m) and five irrigation scheduling criteria (-20, -80, -140 and -200 kPa and SISDA3.5ò irrigation scheduler and no irrigation). The planting was accomplished in January, 2001. A completely randomized block design was used with four replications in split-plot. In the main plot were located the plant spacings and in the subplots the irrigation. Sampling plans were established for plant height and diameter of stem and the treetop of coffee plant for various numbers of replications and various numbers of plants per plot. Number of plants and the number of replications were important in the reduction of variability. The coefficient of variation decreased with increased number of plants per plot. The stem diameter showed most variablility as compesed to height and treetop.
least significant difference; sample size; experimental precision
